Ballistic Helmet Guide

Law enforcement personnel, military troops, public security forces, and search and rescue are people who are willingly risking their lives for the benefit of others. One of the essential pieces of equipment for these people is a helmet; one can easily get a ballistic helmet visor specifically made to protect against gunfire, falling debris, and other impacts. There are many benefits of getting a ballistic helmet for protection since it will help you regardless of your responsibilities as security personnel. If you are still determining which type of helmet you should get, read this article for a thorough guide on ballistic helmets.

Why Get A Ballistic Helmet?

These helmets are used to prevent head injuries due to impacts, collisions, and crashes and help the head and neck by maintaining stability during uncontrolled environments; many types of helmets are used in varying activities, such as hockey, military, football, and bicycle. However, regardless of the type, all helmets aim to protect the skull and brain trauma by absorbing the shock and impact away from the head, which protects the wearer and is an essential gear piece for people participating in tactical operations.

Different Types Of Ballistic Helmets

• PASTG

Also known as the personnel armour system for the ground forces, it is the helmet primarily used by the militaries to replace the M1 helmet, which has been used since the 1980s. You can get this type of helmet in big, medium, small and extra-large sizes. It was made to enhance the protection level of the previous types, most of them usually made of steel. Later on, it became the army’s traditional helmet for decades. Eventually, the demand for the features like improved fitting led the military to get ballistic helmet visors for extra protection.

• Low-Cut Ballistic Helmet

The Low cut helmet refers to the helmet that comes down to the sides and covers the ear. The additional coverage comes in handy in several cases. While the extra material of these styles can increase the weight, the best helmet companies ensure to keep the weight as low as possible. In addition, the module design of the helmets and the adjustable memory foam within the helmet make it easy to customise the helmet according to the head of the soldier for a comfortable fit. For this, you can also get a ballistic helmet visor which will help you get better protection and lighter weight.

• High-cut Ballistic Helmet 

The high-cut ballistic helmet consists of the above ear design. It is also called the high-cut design. These are open on the side, leaving the ears exposed. This design was first intended for special maritime operations but, later on, proved to be beneficial for several applications. These are the ideal types when soldiers have to wear the headset since this helmet will not intervene with the accessory. These helmets do a lot more than wearing a headset. They make it easy to integrate the headset through the railing mount system. You can also add other accessories for tactical operations, such as lights and cameras.

• Bump Helmets

The high and low-cut helmets are military bulletproof helmets. You can also get lighter military-grade helmets, which are made for the blunt impacts that can cause an injury to the head. These helmets are called bump helmets. In addition, you can get ballistic helmet visors which will further enhance the security of these helmets.

These helmets are the best choice when weight is the primary factor, especially if you want to integrate an accessory. However, remember that these helmets are not efficient for ballistic impacts.

What Materials Are Used In Different Ballistic Helmets?

• PASTG: The Kevlar material is an aramid fabric with a phenolic resin system. The outer part of the helmet consists of 19 layers of protection and Kevlar, which protects against ballistic projectiles and bullets. This material gets the rating of the threat level IIIA by the military. 

• ECH: The ECH helmets consist of extra high molecular weight polyethene. This offers weight advantages over the original Kevlar and is usually stronger than the standard PASTG. In addition, the ECH has similar padding and suspension as the MICH. 

• MICH: These are usually made from the advanced version of Kevlar and protect from handgun bullets. Moreover, it eliminates the chinstrap, cord suspension, and sweatband system of the traditional PASTG and has a four-point retention system with an efficient padding system. These systems are not here to make the helmet more comfortable, but they provide better defence from impacts and blunt hits.

Conclusion

These are some of the best examples of distinct types of ballistic helmets which you can get by considering your job and mission. Different helmets help with different cases. Assess the situation and choose the right one to ensure you are always protected from potential injuries such as impacts, falling debris, or gunshots.